Showdown likely between protestors and CalTrans

Last week's skirmishes between CalTrans and those opposed to the current scale of the proposed Highway 101 bypass around Willits are expected to escalate in the coming week.Some anti-bypass activists have called for an "occupy style" encampment starting Sunday night for the area along Highway 101 near the site of an ongoing tree sit.CalTrans has already fallen behind in its construction schedule since the first field work started and then stopped at the request of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on February 25. The CDFW requested CalTrans improve its bird monitoring protocols before disturbing more vegetation.CalTrans reached an agreement with CDFW on March 12 and restarted the project construction on March 13, only to be shut down by the activists.“The contractor's equipment was surrounded by protestors,” says CalTrans spokesman Phil Frisbie. “The California Highway Patrol was called and they responded with two officers. The officers determined they did not have enough force in place to physically remove the protestors. The contractor then shut down the job.”CHP has jurisdiction over the CalTrans right of way, Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman said Thursday. He also said the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office has a memorandum of understanding with CHP and will assist if CHP requests help.Many in the area, including the protestors, are expecting some type of action on Monday morning by CalTrans.With more and more birds arriving in Little Lake Valley, CalTrans is under significant time pressure to finish the fencing and remove the trees and brush along the route as soon as possible, to avoid further delay to the entire project. The Federal Migratory Bird Act severely restricts disturbances allowed in active nesting zones. CalTrans had originally planned to remove the vegetation along the entire route in October or November and avoid having birds make nests in trees destined for removal.